228 QUADRUPEDS COVERED 



while the danger is near, and often long after it 

 is over. In this situation it is tossed about at 

 the pleasure of every other quadruped, and very 

 little resembling a creature endowed with life 

 and motion. Whenever the Indians take it, 

 which is in this form, by laying it close to the 

 fire they soon oblige the poor animal to unfold 

 itself, and to face a milder death to escape a more 

 severe. 



This animal is a native only of America, for 

 they were utterly unknown before the discovery 

 of that continent. It is an inoffensive harmless 

 creature, unless it finds the way into a garden, 

 where it does a great deal of mischief, by eating 

 the melons, the potatoes, and other vegetables. 

 Although a native of the warmest parts of Ame- 

 rica, yet it bears the cold of our climate without 

 any inconvenience. We have often seen them 

 shown among other wild beasts, which is a proof 

 they are not difficult to be brought over. Their 

 motion seems to be a swift walk, but they can 

 neither run, leap, nor climb trees ; so that if 

 found in an open place, they have no method of 

 escaping from their pursuers. Their only re- 

 source in such an extremity is to make towards 

 their hole as fast as they can ; or, if this be im- 

 practicable, to make a new hole before the enemy 

 arrives. For this they require but a very few 

 moments' advantage ; the mole itself does not 

 burrow swifter than they can. For this purpose 

 they are furnished with claws extremely large, 

 strong, and crooked, and usually four upon each 

 foot. They are sometimes caught by the tail as 



